What is Lipoma Board? A forum and community offering information, alternative treatments, resources and support concerning lipomas, lipomatosis and other related conditions. Lipomas are fatty tumors under the skin.

6 months ago I found a pea-sized lump towards the outside of my arm in the middle of my bicep area. I brushed it off thinking that it wasn't anything to worry about. 3 Months in I noticed some growth so I went to my primary physician who also brushed it off saying to come back if I notice significant growth. By this time is was probably the size of a peanut. A couple days ago I went back as I noticed it's about the size of a nickel and he referred me to a general surgeon. I went to the surgeon yesterday afternoon. He felt my lump and decided to remove it in the office. He did a minor incision and tried to pop it out. It was attached to the muscle area so he had to snip it off. Under local anesthesia, I didn't really feel pain till the final cut. After he removed it he showed it to me. It was a little ball of fat just a little bit smaller than a golf ball. probably 2.5-3 centimeters. He moved my incision around and found that there is some more that grows deeper. He sowed me up and said he was sending the lipoma in for lab testing. He said that we can go into the operating room next week to get the rest removed and ordered an MRI. I don't know if I should be concerned.

Should I have taken an MRI and thorough examination before the incision?
Is it okay to leave the remnants of that lipoma in there till next week?
Since it didn't pop out like it was expected, he said it was likely to be an Angiolipoma.
He had to snip the sides and really moved it around to get it out.
If it turns out to be malignant wouldn't this increase the chances of spreading?

Test results should be back in 2-3 days but I don't get to see him till my appointment in 7 days. Should I call in to ask for results sooner? Does this even sound normal?

That might be excessive for MRI... first let the lab determine that it's benign lipoma (seems like it).
It's fine leaving it in. Don't need to panic.
He could have taken out the one that is deeper at the same setting...
How old are you?

I am 23, moving on to 24 in July. The MRI I believe is to determine exactly how deep the remaining of it is and to remove it. He said that in order to remove the rest, we have to do it in the operating room. The lab tests should be back today or tomorrow. The doctor isn't going to be in till Tuesday. I could try to have the nurse practitioner tell me the results over the phone. Although they said that sometimes they can and sometimes they can't. Assuming that when they can't, it must mean bad news. I don't want to call and have them tell me to wait till Tuesday. It's going to be a long weekend for me

>Should I have taken an MRI and thorough examination before the incision?

No need for it but the surgeon should know what he/she is doing. He/she needs to get it ALL out.

>Is it okay to leave the remnants of that lipoma in there till next week?

I would prefer to take it all out at once but if that is the case I don't think you have nothing to worry about.

>If it turns out to be malignant wouldn't this increase the chances of spreading?

Perhaps but I'm pretty sure it's not malignant because you described it as soft and movable. Malignant tumors are hard, irregular and don't really move a lot.

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